Piano-hammer.



PATENTED SEPT. 5, 1905.

J. W. OORDS.

PIANO HAMMER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.19, 1905.

Inventor,

I I Attorneqs Witnesses JOHN 1N. GORDS, OF NEW HAMPTON, IOWVA.

PIANO-HAMMER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 5, 1905.

Application filed January 19,1905. Seria No. 241,816.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN W. Cones, a citi- Zen of the United States,residing atNew H ampton, in the county of Chickasaw and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Piano- Hammer, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in the construction of pianos and similar string instruments, and has for its principal object to provide means whereby a new hammerhead may be readily substituted for one that is worn or damaged.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive means for securing the hammer-head to its carrying-shank.

With these and other objects in view, as will more fully hereinafter appear, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportions, size, and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of a hammer-head and a portion of a hammer-carrying shank secured together in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the clamping or connecting member detached. Fig. 1 is a view similar to Fig. 3, illustrating a slight modification.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

In pianos as at present constructed the hammers usually provided with felt strikingsurfaces become worn or damaged and flattened to such an extent as to impair the tone. It is a matter of much diificulty and expense to renew worn hammers, especially when the heads form either an integral or permanentlyconnected part of the shanks. 1n carrying out the present invention provision is made for providing a readily-detachable connecting means between the hammer-head and its shank, so that a new head may be readily substituted for one that is worn without the exercise of any special skill on the part of the workman.

The hammer 11 is formed of wood or other material and at one end is provided with a felt striking-pad 10 of the usual construction. The head is supported by a shank 12, that is connected in the usual manner to the operating devices controlled from the keyboard The head and shank are connected by a clamp 15, that preferably is formed of sheet metal, generally brass, a portion of the sheet being arranged to form a socket 16 for the reception of the end of the shank 12 and being thence extended to form a pair of clampingwings 1'7, that are provided with openings for the passage of a bolt or screw 18, by which the two wings may be drawn tightly together and clamped on the end of the shank.

The sheet metal is bent into the form of a tube 19, that is arranged in alinement with the socket member 16, the edges of that portion of the sheet which forms the tube being brought closely together and the periphery of the so-formed tube being provided with screw-threads 20 for the reception of a clamping-nut 21. This threaded tube is inserted through a suitable opening formed in the h ammer-head 11, and the lower or inner face of the latter rests against one end of the wings 17 and is further supported by a smallshoulder or flange 25, that is formed by upsetting the metal at a point between the tube and socket. The nut 21 is then screwed on the threads until the head is firmly locked in place.

In order to renew the head, it is merely necessary to remove the nut 21 and place a new head in position, and in so doing it will not be necessary to disturb the connection between the clamping device and the shank 12. It will be observed that the clamping device affords a means for ready adjustment of the position of the hammer when the parts are initially assembled or in case general repairs are necessary.

Vhile it is preferred to form the connecting member of light sheet metal, it is obvious that it may be formed of a small casting, as shown, for instance, in Fig. 1.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is- 1. In combination, a hammer-head having an opening, a shank, a clip having a clamping-socket for the shank and an extended portion passing through the opening in the head, and means for securing said extended portion to the head.

2. In piano-actions, a clip having a clamping-socket for connection with the hammershank, and a tubular member for insertion in 10 socket and tube, and the tubular portion of said clip being threaded for the reception ol a clamping-nut.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aliixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

. JOHN W. OORDS.

\Vitnesses:

EDsoN A. MooN, W. J. NUGENT. 

